Dispenser for individual items



g- 5, 1952 s. P. HlTCHlNGS 4 2,606,089

DISPENSER FOR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS Filed May 22, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Vii 46,114 WIIIIIIIIIIIIII/(g: '11 Mia 36 45 ,:7////4\ I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII igni- Aug. 5, 1952 s. P. HITCHINGS 2,606,089.

DISPENSER FOR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS Filed May 22, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hrr len E/s- Aug. 5, 1952 S. P. HITCHINGS DISPENSER FOR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS Filed May 22, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 hV/EM 1-0/2: S/D/VE/ P. HITCH/M65) Patented Aug. 5, 1952 oFricE I .n1 srisrzsnit FOR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS Sidney. P. Hitchings, St. Louis County, Mo.

Application May 22, 1948, Serial No. 28,549

. 1 H The present inventionrelates to a dispenser for individual items. v v

It is a primary object of theinvention to pro"- vide a dispenser of this kind-having-a movable member, and particularly a rotary member that supports a plurality oi items to be dispensed one by one, and which causes in that manner as each is brought to a particular point by the rotation of the rotary member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of thiskind in which a movable member can support a plurality of items arranged side-by-side on the movable member, and which will cause the dispensing of one of these items each time the sidebyeside group passes a given place. a

A further object oi the invention is to provide a dispenser of the foregoing kindwith a movable member that has supports to hold a plurality of objects side-by-sidethat may thereby be collec-' tively brought by a given discharge point, and wherein discharge takes place from only one, of the side-by-side positions,and whereineach time the one object in the group is dispensed the others are advanced to bringa subsequent one into the dispensing position; Y

Another. object of the invention is to provide a dispenser that has holding means which will hold the objects to be dispensed separate.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of theforegoing kind which has a minimum number of movable parts, and in particular which may have in its essential components only one movable part consisting of a rotary device, except for-the drive mechanism to move the rotary part. i

Other objects will-appear in the specificatio to follow, wherein, in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a-first type of dispenser embodying the present invention; a

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the dispenser with the top cover removed; v

Fig. 4 is a transverse section across the dispenser, taken on the line 4-'-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; r

Fig. 6 is a plan view, partly broken away of the lower rotary element; T

Fig. 7 is a bottom .viewof the upper rotor of the dispenser; 1

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a difi'erent form of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a view from the front of the dispenser of Fig. 8, but with the i t c e? remo e the dispensing of items I in Fig. 14

section, the discharge panel. and discharge vanes .has a discharge-opening 12 Claims; (Cl. 312-971) Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the dispenser with the casing parts shown in medial section;

Fig.-; ll a section horizontally through the dispenser taken on the line I I- l of Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is'a medial vertical section through the dispenser taken on the line l2-I2 of Fig. 8;

Fig., l3 is afront elevation of the dispenser with the reloading and discharge plate removed;

Fig. 14 is aviewsimilar to Fig. 13, but with the displacement vanesalso removed;

Fig; 15 is aside elevation of; the dispenser shown with thecasing sections in medial cross being removed; 4

I Fig. l6 is a rear view of the dispenser, with the casing portions in. sectionand the drive mechanism'shown schematically; and

Fig. 17 is a view of; the discharge vanes and their supporting slide; 1, 1 7

Inthe first type; of the. dispenser which is called a horizontal type, there is a suitable casing, generally indicated at 25. g It maytake the Shape shown'in the drawings. It has a; removable paneltsuch as the movable top 26, and it 21 that may be the outlet-for a'suitable chute 28. The chute may be made separately .fromlthe casing if desired, as will be clearly understood.

There is a main supporting shaft 30. The shaft 30 maybe supported in a suitable thrust bearing member 3|, such as in the manner indicated particularly in Fig. 4. Also an additional bearing 3H! may'be'provided in the cover if needed.

The shaft 30 rotatably supports one or more horizontally disposed dispenser wheels or rotors. Such rotors-are indicated here as two in number, as shown at 32 and 33. They are separately rotatable upon the shaft 36 and superposed one above the other. Both have key slots, and the upper one is keyed to the shaft at 34 so as to be driven when the shaft is rotated.

The shaft 30'is ,driven'by a, ratchet wheel 35 secured to the lower end thereof. The ratchet wheel 35 has a number otteeth corresponding to a plurality of hangers36 mounted to extend radially from the centersection of the rotor 32. As will be understood, a. suitable ratchet arm (not shown) canfadvance the ratchet wheel 35 the distance of one'tooth for each actuation of a drive mechanism, thereby rotating .the rotor the distance between successive hangers 3-6. The lower rotor may be yieidably held against movement by a ball and spring detent 31.

Each of the rotors ,32 and 33 has a radial lug 39 projecting outwardly therefrom at one point in the periphery thereof near the bottom of the hub portion of the rotor. Each rotor also has an upstanding lug 40 projecting upwardly from its upper face. By this arrangement, the ratchet wheel 35 will cause the upper rotor 32 to make a complete revolution, after which the lug 39, by engagement with the lug 40 on the lower rotor, may cause the latter to make a complete revolution.

The lower rotor 33 has a plurality of radially disposed hangers 42 that are spaced therearound in a manner corresponding to the spacing of the hangers 36 on the upper rotor 32. However, it will be noted that there is one portion 43 on the lower rotor 33 that has no hanger, this providing a gap for a reason that will appear.

Each of the hangers 36 and 42 is preferably constructed in the manner shown more particularly in Fig. 3. These hangers may be shaped of wire or rod material, but'in' any case they have laterally extending pin-like portions 45 that, with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotors, project backwardly. It is-desirable that the pins 45 be spaced inwardly from the ends of the hangers 36, so that the hangers project beyond the pins with radial projections, generally indicated at 46. The pins 45 may slope upwardly a little as they project backwardly from the hangers 36, or preferably may be bowed slightly to retain a package hooked upon'them, as shown in Fig. 5.

In order to discharge items supported upon the hangers, a discharge means is provided. It will be seen that there may be an item to be dispensed, such asshown in dotted lines in the drawings at 48, on each of the pins 45, the rad al portions of the hangers 36, to each side of the pins, stabilizing the items 48 against twisting. The item may be a bag of potato chips, to illustrate, but in any case each item'is provided with a suitable loop, eyelet or hole by means of which it may be hung over the pin 45 and carried with the rotor 32 in the movement of the latter.

At a dispensing point just above the chute 28,

there is a suitable pedestal 50 attached to the.

casing 25 or the base thereof. This pedestal is prov ded with two pairs of wiper bars comprising an upper pair 5| and a lower pair 52. The upper pair 5| isdesigned to cooperate successively with theupper set of hangers 36 on the upper wheel. As indicated in Fig. 5, the wiper bars of the pair 5| are disposed above and below the level of the hangers 36, so that, as each hanger 36 passes between the bars 5|, the object upon such hanger bar will be caused to slide off of the hook-45 thereof. In like manner, the pair of wiper bars 52 receive the hangers 42 between them and eject the items suspended upon the pins 45 of the lower hangers 42.

Operation of the dispenser of Figs. 1-7

In order to load the-dispenser of this type, the lid 26 or other suitable panel is removed. The two wheels 32 and 33 may be lifted off of the shaft 30. It will, of course, be understood that more than two wheels may be used, the additional ones corresponding to the lower wheel 33, wh ch is shown .as having a lug 39 thereon to actuate subsequent lower wheels in higher columns of wheels.

Then either the wheels withdrawn may be loaded, or other pre-loaded wheels may be installed. To load the wheels, packages, or whatever else is to be dispensed, are hung onto the hooks 45 of both sets of wheels. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower wheel 33 will receive seven items and the upper wheel will receive eight. However, this is merely a matter of illustration because the hangers may be as close together as convenient under all of the circumstances. The lower rotor 33 is then disposed over the shaft 30 and descends until it rests upon its suitable bearing. Its lug 33 may be brought against the detent ball 31, to hold the rotor 33 against rotation during rotation of the upper one to discharge items from the upper, as will appear. Thereafter the upper wheel is installed. In the initial installation, the lower wheel 33 is so disposed that the gap 43 is just above the discharge point, which is to say, just below the several wipers 5| and 52. When the upper wheel is located over the lower wheel, it is arranged so that the lug 39 is in advance of the lug 40 in the direction of rotation by substantially one station. With the loaded wheels duly installed as aforesaid, the cover is replaced.

Thereafter, a suitable operating lever or the like may be moved, which, through suitable connections not illustrated, advances the ratchet wheel 35 one tooth at a time. will successively advance. the upper wheel 32 to a position just beyond that shown in the drawings, in which action oneof the hangers 36 is caused to pass the pair of wipers 5|, which en'- gage the item on the hook 45 of such wiper and' prevent its movement with the hanger. As a result. the hanger withdraws from the item and permits it to fall. The item on the upper wheel then descends past the gap 43 in the lower wheel into the chute 28 where it slides to the discharge opening 21 and may be removed by the operator. The pitch of the chute 28 ismade proper for the delivery of the items to the opening 21. The slope illustrated is merely diagrammatic.

As indicated in Fig. 3, at the start of the upper rotor 32, its lug 39 is immediately in advance of the lug 40. For each advance of the ratchet wheel, the upper rotor 32 is moved the distance arcuately between two successive hangers. During each such advance, one hanger passes between thewipers 50, that engage the item above: or below the hanger 36, or both above and below to avoid sticking, and, by relative movement between the rotor and the base, remove the item from the hanger. When the lug 39 has moved eight stations, it will engage the lug 40 and perhaps advance it slightly, owing to the thickness of the lugs. This slight movement is accommodated by having the starting point of the upper rotor a little behind the wipers 5|. The detent 31 yields to permit the action. Thereafter further advances will move the lower rotor by engagement of the lugs 39 and 40. The ninth step will advance the lower wheel one station to bring the first package on the first hanger 42 back of the gap 43, to the lower wipers 52, and will discharge that item. Thereafter, subsequent steps of advance of the wheel 32 will cause equal advance of the wheel 33 and the discharge of all of the items therefrom.

In similar manner, other wheels might be aperated if the column includes more than two.

The modification of Figs. 8-1? The primary difference between the dispenser of this modification and that of the earlier type is that the wheel is mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis. It also is arranged so that more than one package can be supported upon each hanger. But a detailed consideration of this type will demonstrate that this modification could also rotate about a vertical axis, provided the arms extended generally horizontally and radially of the axis.

Such operation.

The casing 60 has a wheel 64, having a driving connection. with a.

ratchet wheel 65 that may be driven by a ratchet arm such as that indicated in dotted lines at. 66 in Fig. 16. The ratchetarm is designed to advance the ratchet wheel 65 and the rotor '64 a given unit of distance for each operation ofthe arm 66.

Forwardly of the wheel supports a hub element 68 a suitable setscrew 69, so that it islheld nonrotatably on the shaft. When it is in place, the wheel 64 and its ratchet wheel 65 are properly held in position on the shaft; o v

The wheel or rotor 64 has a plurality of forwardly extending hanger bars 16 disposed about its periphery. These hangers 16 are spaced apart far enough so that the items 1| to be dispensed may make a complete revolution with respect to each hanger without striking another hanger or an item mounted thereon. A

The hub supports a removable slide 13 that is here shown as attached to the hub by a dovetail arrangement. The slide point, such as the top of the Wheel 64, a plurality of wiper vanes 14, 15 and 1.6 that are thus rigidly but removably supported adjacent the top of the rotor, and, more particularly, adjacent the hangers 10 at the top of the rotor. These vanes 14-16 are arranged at an angle with respect to the disc of the rotor 64, for a purpose to appear, and each has an angular flange F on its periphery.

The hub 68 likewise supports a plurality of spacer guide elements, here shown as in the form of wires or wire rods. In the embodiment shown, two such guides on each side of the hub are employed, as indicated at 11 and 18 on the one side and at 19 and 86 on the other side. The guides of this group extend upwardly, so that they may be disposed adjacent the discharge vanes 14-16, and are arcuately arrangedlclose to the periphery of the wheel inside of the hangers 16, from the vanes 14-16 to shaft 63.

' In addition to the foregoing, the casing supports a plurality of guides 81 and 82spaced similarly to the upper guides but disposed outside the periphery of the wheel in the lower section. The purpose of these guides will appear hereafter.

The front panel 6| has an opening 84 in it that preferably extends over substantially the distance shown in Figs. 13 and 14, so that the hub slide 63 and the vanes 14-16 may be removed through this opening. The opening is closed by 64, the shaft 63 fixedly that may be set as by a separable panel 85 that contains a dischargeoutlet 86, back of which a chute 81 is formed with the mouth of the chute just below the outer end of any hanger 10 that is at the top of the wheel and just below-the outer wiper vane 14.

Operation of the dispenser of Figs. 8-17 To load the dispenser of this "type, the panel 85 is removed. Thereafter the slide 13, with the wiper vanes 14-16, is slidforwardly and removed, leaving the dispenser in the conditionindicated in Fig. 14. Then, with one empty hanger 10 at the top of the wheel and thus accessible 13 supports at a'suitable top of the casing adjacent the slightly below, the axis of the hanger 16 just in advance will be moved to just beyond the vanes,

61 through the top of the opening, a plurality of items 1| with holes or'othe'r hook means for hanging them are disposed over the upper hanger 10. In the presently disclosed dispenser, three items are applied to each hanger. Thereafter,

the-wheel 64 is rotated free of the ratchet to dis- 7 pose the next hanger 10 atthe top of the wheel,

at which time it can be loaded.

After the whole mach'ne is loaded, the vanes 14-16 are re-installed so that they occupy the positions indicated in the drawings. The access panel 85 is then reapplied tothe front panel 61.

With the adjustments of the various parts as shown in the drawings, the start of the operation of the dispenser by the actuating arm 66 will find one of the hangers 10 just to the left of the vanes 14-16 in Figs. 13 and 14. As previously stated, each hanger at] the start is loaded with three items. Whenthe ratchet is operated to advance the rotor-64 one unit of distance, which is the angular distance between hangers 16, the of thevan'es 14-16 and a subsequent hanger 16 will be advanced to the position initially occupied by the first-mentioned one. Or, to reducethe pitch of the vanes, and to provide gentler displacementof the items on the hangers, the hangers may extend two stations angularly, andhave half the pitch. Loading is less convenient under such arrangement. In the advancing movement across the vanes, the three items on the hanger") will be moved forwardly on such hanger. The rearmost item will be advanced by the vane 16 to the position formerly occupied by the intermediate item. The intermediate item will be advanced by the vane 15 to the point previously occupied by the forward item, and the foremost hanger on the hanger 10 will be wiped by off of the hanger, where it will descend into the chute 81, the upper end of whichis suitably disposed so as to be sure that this item will fall into the chute. This item is thereby dispensed and can be removed from the openingtfi. The flanges F on the vanes produce the desired movement by engaging with the items adjacent the hangers. Engagement adjacent the hangers reduces catching of the items on the hangers as may occur where the items are displaced by contact a distance below the hangers, and are rocked on the hangers before they are pushed off. It is, therefore, preferable to providethe flanges.

Thereafter, the remaining two items are held between the guide bars 19 and for the intermediate item and ahead of the bar 19 for the forward item. If necessary, a further bar may be similarly disposed forwardly of the forward item to 'prevent'it from being shaken off of its hanger, although this is not ordinarily required. The upper guides 11 and 18' likewise keep the items on the hangers as they approach the wiping vanes, in proper spaced alignment. It will be noted that the items make a complete revolution with respect to each hanger as the rotor 64 makes onerevolution. Consequently, the guide bars in the lower part of the dispenser are more desirably located below the rotor because the items there are depending below the rotor, as indicated in dotted lines' 'in' Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. Hence, as any item moves from the eight-o'clock position to the ten-oclock position, it changesfrom depending below the rotor to depending toward thev axis of the rotor. At the nine-oclock position it" begins to leave'the lower guide bars 8| and 82 and to be engaged-by the'upper guide the wiper 14 completely aeogos 1 bars .11 and I8. At the tenroclock position. it will be seen to be guided wholly by the upper guide bars. The guides :on the other side operate simi-,

sively advanced forward on the hangers and final-- ly dispensed by the forward.wiping vanesfl.

The foregoing arrangement permits the disposition of a large number of items on a single rotor wheel 64. Inthe illustration shown, thirtysix items can be dispensed by onerotor. Of course, the rotor may be made to hold less items or more items,.depending, uponthe length of the hangersandthe: number of vanes and guide bars employed.

If it is desired to replace the "rotor, the front panel 6| may be removed entirely, the hub removed and the rotor :replaced. This makesgit possible to' load rotors'atsome; central station and install them fully loaded into each machine.

It is, of course, understood that thismachine may be operated by power or.by coin control, if

desired. I

Both of the types of machine operate by rotors and h are d ned to dispense itemsthat can be hung upon, the rotors. The horizontal rotor can take longer packages without interference between them, but it is more, limited as to the number of items that maybe hung upon it. However, it will be understood that the wiper-arrangement could be adapted to the horizontal rotor. Also, the vertical rotorcould be horizontal, provided its hangers had ends extending outwardly.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dispenser for a plurality of separate items, a base, a shaft, a rotor mounted on the shaft, a pluralityof hangers on the rotor, each capable of holding a plurality of items side by side, deflectingmechanism having means to be engaged by an end item on the hanger during rotation of the rotor, to deflect it from the hanger, and means to be engaged by aninner item on the hanger and deflect it from its position toward the end position.

2. In a "dispenser .for a'plurality of; separate items, a base, a shaft, a rotor mounted on the shaft, a pluralityof hangers on the rotor, each capable of holding a plurality of items side by side, deflecting mechanism, having means to be engaged by an end item on the hanger during rotation of the rotor, to deflect it from thev hanger, and means to beengaged by an inner item on the hangerand deflect it from its position toward the end position, said deflecting means having portions adjacent-the hangers to engage the parts of the items clse to the hangers whereby they will not rotate about the hangers as they are being deflected.

3-. In a dispenser for a plurality of separate items, a base, a shaft, a rotor mounted .on the shaft, a plurality of hangers on the rotor, each capable of holding a plurality of items side by side, deflecting mechanism having means to be engaged by an end item on the hanger during rotation of the rotor, to deflect it from the hanger, means to be engaged by an inner item on the hanger and deflect it from its position toward the end position, and means engageable by the inner item during rota-tion of the rotor to prevent'it from leaving its position along the hanger prior to engagement with the deflecting mechanism.

4. In a dispenser for a plurality of separate items, a base, a shaft, a rotor mounted on the shaft, a plurality of hangers on thegrotor, each capable of holding a plurality of item's'side by side, deflecting mechanism having means to be engaged by an, end item on the hanger during rotation of the rotor, to deflect it from the hanger, means to be engaged by an inner item on the hanger and deflect it from its position toward the endposition, and means engageable by the inner item during rotation of the rotor to prevent it from leaving its vpositionalong the hanger. prior to engagement with the deflecting mechanism, comprising guide means extending alongside the rotor and the path of rotation of the items.

5. In a dispenser for a plurality of separate items, a base, a shaft, a rotor mounted on the shaft, a plurality of hangers on the rotor, each capable of holding a plurality ofitems side by side, deflecting mechanism on the base having means to be engaged by an end item on the hanger during rotation of the rotor, to deflect it from the hanger, means to be engaged by an inner item on the hanger and deflect it from its position toward the end position, and means engageable by the inner item during rotation of the rotor to prevent it from leaving its position along the hanger prior to engagement with the deflecting mechanism, comprising guidemeans extending alongside the rotor and the path of rotation of the items, the shaft being horizontal and the rotor rotatable in a vertical plane, the guide means extending within the periphery of the rotor at the upper side thereof, and outside the periphery of the rotor on the lower side.

6. In a dispenser, a casing, a horizontal shaft therein, a rotor vertically disposed on the shaft, a plurality of hangers projecting from the rotor, to receive items to be dispensed, a deflector vane, means removably supporting the vane adjacent the hangers, to engage items and deflect them from the hangers during rotation of the rotor, the casing having a panel extending across the face of the rotor and spaced from it, on the side having the hangers, an opening in the panel adjacent the deflector vane and its supports, and a removable cover for said opening.

7. A dispenser, comprising a housing; a rotor mounted within the housing for rotational movement in a vertical plane; a plurality of hangers projecting from the rotor to receive items to be dispensed; a deflector assembly removably supported within the housing adjacent the hangers to engage the items and deflect them from the hangers during movement of the rotor; an opening in the housing in alignment with the deflector assembly through which the latter can be withdrawn from the housing and to provide access to the ends of the hangers for loading the dispenser; and a removable cover for said opening.

8. A dispenser, comprising a housing; a rotor mounted within the housing for rotational movement in a vertical plane; a' plurality of hangers projecting fromthe rotor to receive items to be dispensed; a deflector assembly; means removably supporting the deflector assembly adjacent the hangers to engage the items anddeflect them from the hangers during movement of the rotor, said means being constructed for removal of the deflector assembly in a direction substantially normal to the plane of the rotor; an opening in the housing'in alignment with one end of the deflector assembly through which the latter can be withdrawn from the housing and to expose the ends of the hangers in sequence for loading 9 the dispenser; and a removable cover for said opening.

9. A dispenser, comprising a housing having a front wall and a rear wall; a horizontal support member disposed within the housing; a rotor mounted on the support member adjacent the rear wall for rotation in a vertical plane; a plurality of hangers projecting from the rotor toward the front wall to receive items to be dispensed; a deflector assembly removably mounted on the support member between the front wall and the rotor adjacent the hangers to engage the items and deflect them from the hangers during movement of the rotor, the deflector assembly being removable toward the front wall; an opening in the front wall in alignment with the deflector assembly through which the latter can be withdrawn from the housing and to expose the ends of the hangers in sequence for loading the dispenser; and a removable cover for said openmg.

10. A dispenser, comprising a base; a shaft supported above the base; a rotor mounted on the shaft for rotational movement; a plurality of hangers supported on the rotor; each hanger being capable of holding a plurality of items in juxtaposition; and deflecting means adjacent the hangers to deflect an end item from a hanger and to deflect an inner item from its position to the end position during rotation of the rotor, said last named means including a plurality of vane-like members disposed at an angle to the path of movement of the hangers.

11. A dispenser, comprising a base; a shaft supported above the base; a rotor mounted on the shaft for rotational movement; a plurality of hangers supported on the rotor, each hanger being capable of holding a plurality of items in juxtaposition; and deflecting means adjacent the hangers to deflect an end item from a hanger and to deflect an inner item from its position to the end position during rotation of the rotor, said last named means including a plurality of vanelike members disposed at an angle to the path of movement of the hangers, and spaced apart a distance to permit the items to pass between them.

12. A dispenser, comprising a base; a shaft supported in a horizontal position above the base; a rotor mounted on the shaft for rotational movement in a vertical plane; a plurality of hangers extending transversely from the rotor, each hanger being capable of holding a plurality of items in juxtaposition; and deflecting means adjacent the hangers to deflect an end item from a hanger and to deflect an inner item from its position to the end position during rotation of the rotor, said last named means including a plurality of vertically extending vane-like members having flange-like portions at their ends adjacent the hangers.

SIDNEY P. HITCI-IINGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 398,245 Ford Feb. 19, 1889 496,281 Pursell Apr. 25, 1893 2,272,859 Wilsey Feb. 10, 1942 2,441,083 Rottier May 4, 1948 

